Connecticut Victims' supporter spoke to jurors Judge says comment is not catastrophic

By John Christoffersen Associated Press NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- A judge denied a defense motion for a mistrial Monday after a supporter of the victims' family spoke to jurors in the trial of a Connecticut man charged with a brutal home invasion. The juror says a member or supporter of the Petit family commented Friday during the lunch break, saying "thank you for doing what you're doing." The judge then questioned the jurors about what was said and how it affected them. Two alternate jurors were nearby but said they didn't hear the comment. None said the comment affected his or her ability to serve impartially. Judge Jon Blue called the comment improper but not catastrophic. Prosecutors are expected to rest Monday in their case against Joshua Komisarjevsky, who faces a possible death sentence if convicted of killing Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, ages 17 and 11. Authorities say Komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes broke into the Petit family's home in Cheshire in July 2007, beat Dr. William Petit with a bat and tied him and his family up. Hayes, who is on death row, was convicted last year of strangling Hawke-Petit and killing the girls, who died of smoke inhalation after the house was doused in gas and set on fire. Walter Bansley, Komisarjevsky's attorney, noted he had sought unsuccessfully to have the trial moved out of New Haven. He said the comment was aimed at influencing jurors. "This just highlights the extraordinary pressure that surrounds this case," Bansley said. He said the defense has had difficulty getting witnesses to cooperate because of perceived and actual intimidation. Bansley said a defense supporter was approached on the first day of the trial by a Petit family supporter who said: "How dare you support him. You disgust me." A defense witness had a dead mouse left in his mailbox, Bansley said. He also said members of lawyers' families have been threatened. "It's this atmosphere that permeates the whole trial," Bansley said. "It's certainly clear to the defense Mr. Komisarjevsky cannot get a fair trial." Blue said the comment to the jurors was a compliment and not a threat. "It was improper but it was not catastrophic," Blue said. He warned he would ban anyone from the court if they approach jurors. Johanna Chapman Petit, aunt of the two girls killed, said she wasn't sure who approached the jurors but was sure no family member did. She said she didn't think anyone was trying to influence jurors. Published: Tue, Oct 4, 2011